Transformer of the Day for July 16, 2009
GALAXY SHUTTLE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Interstellar Transport Warrior
-Motto: “Let’s Wing It”
-Notable Toy: Standard (Takara, 1989)
Notes: Like Godbomber to Powermaster Optimus Prime, Galaxy Shuttle is one of those Takara-issued figures that would have greatly enhanced its companion toy (in this case, Countdown). Because, really, isn’t it more practical to have a sentient robot carrying your crew into deep space as opposed to an empty rocket? Galaxy Shuttle may not have the best of names, but he certainly looks good on Countdown’s platform.
(Apologies and thanks to tfarchives.com for the pic.)
Transformer of the Day for July 15, 2009
OVERLORD
-Faction: Decepticon (Powermaster / Godmaster)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Self Contained Nomadic Assault Machine
-Motto: “I Stand My Ground… I Accept any Challenge… I am Hungry for Conflict”
-Notable Toy: European Powermaster (Hasbro, 1992)
Notes: The only problem with the release of Powermaster Optimus Prime in North America is the absence of a great nemesis. Toywise, Megatron had been shelved right up until Action Masters, and Darkwing and Dreadwind just weren’t the same. Now just consider the possibility if the double powermaster Overlord, with forms of a jet and tank, had been allowed to balance the hero. That’s exactly what I think…
(Apologies and thanks to botchthecrab.com for the image.)
Transformer of the Day for July 14, 2009
SLAMDANCE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Journalist
-Motto: “The True Victor Will Be Correlated from History”
-Notable Toy: Two-Pack (Hasbro, 1988)
Notes: Slamdance is a odd toy. One of the smallest gestalts, his individual forms of Grandslam and Raindance take the shapes of vehicles rather than sentient animals or humanoids. And the best description of his function is as journalist, an odd calling for a race where everyone is immediately branded as part of one faction or another. And though he has little poseability, he’s a fun toy, although it is curious why Hasbro didn’t release any other gestalt tape pairing outside of his nemesis, Squawkbox.
(Apologies and thanks to botchthecrab.com for the image.)
Transformer of the Day for July 7, 2009
HYDRA 
-Faction: Decepticon (Godmaster)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Space Aviation Officer
-Motto: “Friends are More Dangerous than Enemies”
-Notable Toy: Godmaster (Takara, 1988)
Notes: Hydra is the Japanese version of Darkwing. Similar to his North American counterpart, Hydra can form a gestalt jet form with his partner, Buster (Dreadwind in North America). The whole concept of a combined jet mode is strange enough without the garish colours either brother sports. However, as Hasbro has recently seen fit to recolour Universe Superion as Dreadwind, and the Transformers Collectors’ Club has blessed us with a recoloured Classics Jetfire as Darkwing, can a non-combining Hydra and Buster be far behind?
(Apologies and thanks to botchthecrab.com for the character image.)
Transformer of the Day for July 10, 2009
CROSSBLADES
-Faction: Autobot (Mega Pretender)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Ground Reinforcements
-Motto:“A Warrior Is Only as Good as His Weapons”
-Notable Toy: Mega Pretender (Hasbro, 1989)
Notes: Ah, Pretenders. Following the head, target and powermasters, Pretenders represented Hasbro next effort to revitalize the toy line. And the standard Pretender shells quickly gave way to shells that could transform. Though Crossblades was only briefly mentioned in the U.S. comic book, his mold would be reconditioned to form the Decepticon Blue Bacchus in Japan. Both are fine toys and great additions to the collection.
(Apologies and thanks to botchthecrab.com, shmax.com and bbts.com ffor the image.)
Transformer of the Day for July 5, 2009
BANZAI-TRON
-Faction: Decepticon (Action Master)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Mercenary / Martial Arts Warrior
-Motto: “To the Victor Go The Profits”
-Notable Toy: Botcon Exclusive (Hasbro, 2009)
Notes: Banzai-Tron is possibly the most interesting original character produced for the Action Masters line. At Botcon 2009, he finally found issue as an actual transformer. Packaged with Skyquake, he’s a repaint of the battle boat known as Energon Mirage. He’s arguably the best exclusive made available at Botcon 2009, and the mold seems to fit him like a glove.
Transformer of the Day for July 4, 2009
GREAT SHOT
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Covert Combat
-Motto: “To Win Peace I Will Fight War Itself”
-Notable Toy: Standard (Takara, 1989)
Notes: Great Shot is a Japanese exclusive reconstruction of the original Decepticon Six Changer, Sixshot. As Takara did with Sixknight (another recovered six changer, this time based on Autobot Quickswitch), Takara remolded the head of the robot as well as the head of the animal transformation. And somehow this piece of red, white and blue never got mass produced in the U.S. Pity!
(Apologies and thanks to shmax.com and bbts.com for the toy pic.)
Transformer of the Day for July 2, 2009
ELITA ONE
-Faction: Autobot
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Squadron Leader
-Motto: “Caution is a Mark of Valour”
-Notable Toy: Garage Kit (MC Axis, 1996)
Notes: Elita-One has been lurking around in the background of the multiverse since 1985, when she and the female Autobots first appeared in the Search for Alpha Trion. She’s appeared in the neo-Classics comics for Botcon 2007 (from which a very pink figure was derived for Botcon 2009) and had a movie-inspired repaint produced. She’s even appeared in Transformers: Animated as a pre-organic Blackarachnia. And she’s been given a bust by Diamond Direct. Still, the hard-to-find garage kit is the best representation out there.
Transformer of the Day for July 1, 2009
NIGHTRACER
-Faction: Decepticon
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Gunner
-Motto: ““A Good Shot is Worth More than a Big Mouth”
-Only Toy: Botcon Exclusive (Hasbro, 1995)
Notes: Nightracer is a lot of first. The first North American female transformer. The first female Decepticon transformer. The first original exclusive convention character. And likely the first Transformer characterization not entirely owned by Hasbro. Never replicated, a true Nightracer features the personal touch of creater Raksha, the organizer of Botcon 1995, to bring to plastic life the stuff of her imagination. She’s a beaut and a treasure in any collection, and the perfect way to start the second half of 2009.
(Thanks to Raksha for permission to use Nightracer, and appreciation to Markatron for the artwork.)
Transformer of the Day for June 29, 2009
DINOKING
-Faction: Decepticon (Pretender)
-Era: Generation One (1984-1992)
-Function: Dinosaur Gestalt Warrior
-Motto: “There is No Peace, Only Terror”
-Notable Toy: Gift Set (Takara, 1989)
Notes: The release of Dinoking in Japan (and Monstructor in North America) really shows the differences between the North American and Japanese markets (or at least their respective companies). Unlike the rubbery pretender monsters shells that came with Icepick et. al., the Dinoforce figures came with rubbery shells in the form of dinosaurs. The colours of the robots were more sombre and less garish than their North American cousins. And only Dinoking could be caught all at once.
(Apologies and thanks to botchthecrab.com and tfarchives.com for the image.)
